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How to Use a Search Engine
Many people have used search engines for several years. It's not hard to get hundreds of relevant results for those hot topic searches, but there may be times when you just can't find what you're looking for. There are some techniques that every searcher should know. The following clues should help you find just what you are looking for.
*Keywords*
Keep your query as basic as possible. For example, instead of typing, "what types of apples are best for pie baking", all you need is "apple types baking pie" and you will most likely get what you were looking for. The search engine tries to find a website that matches all your keywords, so if you throw in extra words like "what" "best" you might miss out on a website that has just what you want, but didn't have the right wording, etc. to match your results.
*Query Shortcuts*
When you perform a search, there are a few shortcuts that will help you perform an advanced search from the main search bar:
*To search for an exact phrase, place quotes (") in front and behind the keywords.
*To search for one or more words, add "OR" in between those words.
*To search for a keyword but eliminate all results also containing another word, place a hyphen (-) exactly next to the word you want to eliminate (e.g., "word -eliminate")
*Categories*
Most search engines have multiple ways to specify exactly what you are looking for. For example, there are multiple head categories under which you can search for topics, like images, news, and shopping, etc. If you are looking for something that would be under such a category, click on that heading, then perform your search to only bring up results within that category. This will rule out useless websites with irrelevant information.
*Special Search Tools*
If you need directions, stock quotes, or are looking for jobs, movies, books, or cars, check out all the special tools that search engines provide. The reason that search engines is a great place too look is because cars.com or jobs.com just might not have as a wide a variety or may list a more limited selection or promote certain items because of individual self interests of that company. A search engine is more likely to provide an unbiased, wide variety. You will probably be surprised how many different tools are available. They range from techie-geek gadgets, to personals, to scholastic references, to entertainment venues.
Here's how to find these special tools on a few of the popular sites:
*Google.com-basic categories are listed across the top of the page, click "more" for more categories, and "even more>>" to see a collection of all the special tools.
*Yahoo.com-most popular tools are listed along the left side. If you hover over any of them they'll show a preview page. Click "add" at the bottom of the list to see all the available tools.
*MSN.com-categories are listed under the search bar at the top of the page.
*Bing.com-basic categories are listed along the left. Click the "Explore" button to see every tool.
With these selections, you should be able to find your way around billions of websites and quickly find just what you're looking for.
Author Resource:-
Written by Hannah Miller, Director of Online Marketing and Customer Service Rep, Copper.net.
Copper.net is a nationwide Internet Services provider that is all-American owned and operated. Call today, 1-800-336-3318 or sign up online. Check out my blog for this and more great articles! http://www.copper.net/wire
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